The University of Texas at Austin Athletics
Former Softball great Jefferson appointed to USWNT Pan American Games roster
08.31.2023 | Softball
Janae Jefferson’s sizzling summer continues with selection to represent the United States in Chile at upcoming Pan American Games
AUSTIN, TX – For the first time since 2019, The University of Texas softball program will be represented at the Pan American Games as former All-American Janae Jefferson was selected to the 16-player U.S. Women's National Team (WNT), USA Softball announced Thursday morning.
Jefferson, a former four-time All-American and the program's all-time hit and career batting average leader, becomes the first Longhorn to earn the opportunity to participate in the Pan American Games since Cat Osterman in 2019. Jefferson, who is coming off being named the Player of the Year and earning a Women's Professional Fastpitch (WPF) Championship with the Texas Smoke, is just the third Texas softball representation on the U.S. Pan Am Games Team in program history joining Osterman (2007, 2019) and Taylor Hoagland (2011). Both Osterman and Hoagland won gold medals in their appearances.
Recently, Jefferson has been a member of the U.S. World Championship and U.S. Pan Am Championship Teams in 2022, when she won gold medals with both squads. In the 2022 World Games, Jefferson hit .333 (3-for-9) with four runs batted in and three runs scored. She also hit .500 (13-for-26) with five runs batted in and 13 runs scored during the 2022 WBSC Americas Qualifier.
"These 16 athletes have continued to dominate in all areas of the game — whether it being at USA Softball related evaluations, with their collegiate programs or on the professional level," said WNT head coach Heather Tarr. "It's a versatile group with a tremendous amount of experience, spanning from Olympic medalists to World Champions – and even a few former Pan American Games gold medalists mixed in there."
Selected from the WNT athlete pool, the Women's National Team Selection Committee (WNTSC) formed the Pan American Games roster based on previous and ongoing evaluations at the collegiate and professional levels as well as the USA Softball National Team events.
Since softball began play in the Pan American Games in 1979, Team USA has won nine gold medals — most recently in 2019 — and two silver medals. In 11 overall Pan American Game appearances, the U.S. WNT has a 100-5 overall record. The 2023 Pan American Games will be held October 29 through November 4, 2023 in Santiago, Chile.
The University of Texas is the lone Big 12 Conference institution with a representative on this year's USWNT for the Pan American Games.
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